Historic Bridges in Iowa

3,036 bridges built before 1951 in Iowa still in service today.

Bridges Built Before 1951

The United States has 3,036 bridges in Iowa built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old, many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
RACCOON RIVER Iowa Fair 1949 77 46
CEDAR CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 62
SMALL CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 40
SMALL CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 15
SMALL CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 11
BRUSHY CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 60
KEIGLEY CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 26
DRAINAGE DITCH Iowa Poor 1949 77 15
SKUNK RIVER Iowa Fair 1949 77 15
UPPER IOWA Iowa Poor 1949 77 393
UPPER IOWA Iowa Poor 1949 77 393
NICHOLS CR Iowa Poor 1949 77 42
STAFF CR Iowa Fair 1949 77 16
ODEBOLT CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 60
OLD MANS CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 30
SMALL Iowa Fair 1949 77 130
PRAIRIE CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 16
CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 35
WAPSIPINICON RIVER Iowa Fair 1949 77 393
SMALL STREAM Iowa Fair 1949 77 90
SUGAR CREEK BRANCH Iowa Fair 1949 77 20
BONNELL CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 370
SUGAR CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 30
LOST CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 120
DEAD DOG RUN Iowa Fair 1949 77 44
BR OF LITTLE WHITEBREAST Iowa Poor 1949 77 11
WATERWAY Iowa Fair 1949 77 259
FIELD DRAINAGE DITCH Iowa Fair 1949 77 259
DRAINAGE Iowa Fair 1949 77 29
NORTH RIVER Iowa Fair 1949 77 477
DRAINAGE Iowa Poor 1949 77 597
DRAINAGE Iowa Fair 1949 77 50
DRAINAGE Iowa Fair 1949 77 26
PLEASANT CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 15
SOUTH TIMBER CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 34
MINERVA CR Iowa Poor 1949 77 26
CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 20
NE NORWAY CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 50
COTTONWOOD CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 15
SOLDIER CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 159
TARKIO CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 159
TARKIO CREEK Iowa Poor 1949 77 60
NISHNABOTNA TRIB Iowa Poor 1949 77 29
SMITH RUN Iowa Fair 1949 77 560
PINE CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 60
DRY RUN Iowa Good 1949 77 21
LITTLE OCHEYDAN RIVER Iowa Fair 1949 77 15
OTTER CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 41
DRY RUN Iowa Fair 1949 77 34
OTTER CREEK Iowa Fair 1949 77 30

About Historic Bridge Data

Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.